A resolution affirming the preeminence of property rights for economic development and private benefit.

WHEREAS, personal property rights are a foundational principle in our republic, as affirmed by a continuous history of legal due process and “takings” protections against governmental infringement of said rights; and

WHEREAS, these personal property rights have perpetually been linked to the individual prosperity that results from capitalizing the resources and labors on and from one’s personal property; and

WHEREAS, government policies that unduly restrict private land use or that create anti-competitive market conditions hinder both the personal and general economic benefits that come from entrepreneurial development on personal property; and

WHEREAS, property owners for generations have profited from oil, gas and mineral rights leases, easement and right-away agreements, and other development projects that leverage the natural resources or geography of their land; and

WHEREAS, new technologies have created free market opportunities for property owners to utilize the value of their land through energy development projects, including fracking, wind and solar deployment, biofuels, etc.; and

WHEREAS, vigilance in protecting personal property rights, among other fundamental rights within a free society, from the increasing reach of both governmental and societal forces has become an urgent necessity.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that {state} supports all federal, state, and local efforts to protect individual property owners’ rights regarding the development and building of energy projects upon their privately-owned land while balancing the interests of the citizens of [state] to develop energy and related projects that provide widespread and substantial economic and social benefits.